Deb on the Web

A total

$87,000!  Terrific, amazing, I love it:)  That is a great amount for 500 people to raise.  Thank you again for taking part donators!  I am going to insert the email I received from the new Northwest Coordinator:

THANK YOU Take Steps Participants for helping make Saturday’s fundraising walk a huge success!  Although it was 102 degrees we still had nearly 500 walkers sweat it out with us in downtown Portland.  It warmed my heart (literally & figuratively) to see such dedication and support.  To date we’ve raised $87,000 and the numbers keep growing.

*Remember, you can continue to fundraise and qualify for additional incentive prizes through the month of July.
Online Donations through July 31st – Keep sending your friends, family and coworkers to your personal fundraising page.  Visit http://www.active.com/donate/TakeStepsPortland07 and choose your name from the drop-down menu titled “view fundraising pages.”

Offline donations through July 20th – Any cash & checks you’ve collected can be sent to my attention at 5906 NE 32nd Place, Portland, OR 97211.  Just make sure to include your name and team name, if applicable, to assure you get credit.

I’ve included a list of the incentive prizes below.

Congratulations to our TOP Fundraisers, all raising over $1,000!  There is still time to be added to this list!
Suzanne Belatti    $1,055
Mason Barker       $1,100
Stephen Chiocca $1,112
Eric Stoffregen      $1,135
Rick Heckman      $1,250
Tara Eilts             $1,308
Beth Cook            $1,535
Kandice Knigge    $2,150
Kurtis Kerslake   $4,125

Thank you again for your support.  I look forward to doing this all again next year.  Questions, comments, concerns or suggestions?  I want to hear all of them.  Feel free to email me anytime.  Enjoy the summer! 

Geia Angelatos
Portland Development Manager
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
5906 NE 32nd Place, Portland, OR 97211
PH: 503-307-1923
Fax: 503-841-6695

A great time had by all!

The CCFA walk-"Taking Steps" was a great success!  There was a record breaking 500 people in attendance.  This may seem a small number compared to some fundraisers, but as this is a newer organization we are happy to see it grow and grow (last year it was 350 people).  Here are a few shots in Pioneer Courthouse Square  That is Miss Teen Oregon in the corner.  She almost died earlier this year from Colitis.  Team photos were taken by groups.  My cousin Pam and I walked at the head of the group leading them on with an orange umbrella.  We were catching up about our parents and other cousins (there are 21 of us) when all of a sudden I looked back and realized we were four blocks ahead of the 500 people we were leading!  haha  We slowed down and were actually passed up by several:)  Here is Pam She did give me an extra huge hug for all the people who donated:)  pics from along the way a volunteer letting us know when to turn walking along the waterfront we could see our mountain over the water you never know who or what you might see on a fundraising walk.  She can now say she had 500 people attend her wedding. hehehe   Back at the Square Antonio Harvey of the Blazers helped Pam draw names for the raffle He even brought a pair of signed shoes (size 20) that belonged to a Blazer for the raffle my cousin really isn't that short.  I gave two certificates for dinner at Gino's.  It is fun to see someone really happy to receive that.  I love that they had a kid area too   It was a fun day had by all!  I didn't hear what the final fundraising total was, but I'll share when I find out.  They had a special t-shirt made for the 7 people that raised over $1000.  Okay--you know what my goal is next year;)

And the winners are--

First of all, thank you to all who donated!  My cousin was thrilled and sent everyone a big hug:)  She is also an organizer of this event so she and I will be at the front of the group starting the walk tonight. The total raised was $525!  Pretty great!   Unfortunately, today is the day that the heat decided to arrive.  A warm 100 degrees to walk with this evening.  groan  But this is so worth it!
And now without further delay the winners:

#1 Mariko

#2 Keri

#3 Angie

#4 Michelle

#5 Marisol

#6 Debby

#7 Paulette

#8 Carolyn

#9 Lorajean

#10 Nancy

I will contact each of you tonight when I return from the walk!
Now as there were 13 people and 10 prizes I feel that a little something (a thank you present) needs to be sent to Jane, Gail and Henry.

Thank you all again!!  Let's make a date to do this again next year, shall we;)

How about $700!!

Thank you to all the donors that helped get us to the new goal of $500!!  I'm raising it up to $700:)  There are still a couple days to go after all.  Here is the Donation Page and here is the Prize Page!  Any donation amount puts your name in the hat to possibly win a prize.

The final prize--#10!!

I really couldn't decide what to do for a final (and special) prize.  I wanted it to garner some additional donations these last few days before the walk--which means this last prize should appeal to all not just knitters (or spinners:0).  And something special that anyone would really want.  So what do we all love!?!  Socks of course:)  Handknit Socks!  The winner of this prize can tell me what colors they like and I will choose some lovely yarn from my gigantic stash;) to knit that lucky person socks that will fit them perfectly.
I will put together a prize page that shows all ten prizes.  You get on over to the donation page and do your part (pretty please).  As there have not been a lot of people that went in to helping me reach my goal (thank you, thank you, thank you donors!) that means you all have a pretty great chance to win a prize:)  But only if you donate before Saturday at 4p (PST).  I will be choosing the winners (and posting their names) before I head downtown for the walk.  All prizes will be sent out (except for the pre-order and hand knit socks) on the following Wednesday.  It is very exciting that this walk has grown to a point that they are moving it from a secluded spot along the water (I did enjoy the view while power walking) to right smack in the middle of downtown on a Saturday night at 5:30.  We walkers will be all about making noise this year!!  Getting people's attention and letting them know what we are all about!  I'm so proud to be walking with my cousin:)  And hopefully my sis and mom will be joining?
Don't forget to donate!

A new prize! And some FOs

Prize #9 for the CCFA walk fundraiser!!  Is a little something for you spinners out there This beautiful fiber is from Capistrano Fiber Arts.  It is 60% Merino 40% Bamboo in a limited edition colorway.  Just beautiful shades of green.  And as we have had a lot of rain here in the Northwest it is looking very similar to my surroundings right now;)  You have to make a donation (in any amount) right here to have your name in the prize hat!  All prizes will be awarded on Saturday June 28th (And it is coming right up.  CCFA is a very deserving charity.  Colitis and Crohn's Disease really gets very little mention and fundraisers like this go a long way to raise important money to help those afflicted.

In the I have finished department-- A finished Needle Felted Bucket bag!  I really love the way it turned out.  The pattern called for design on the sides, but I liked the fact that I can see a little bit of the decrease pattern there.  I do have to sewn the handles on a little better.  After a very heavy load at the Farmer's Market yesterday there was fraying of stitches (I am so not a seamstress!).
For the first baby shower of the Summer we have Angora baby booties I just had to use that German Angora/merino right away (from BSG).  It felt wonderful to knit with and will look darling on the feet of this Mama's baby
I have been roasting a chicken with Morel mushrooms, beets and turnips while typing this.  It is not time to steam the greens from that veg.  So more tomorrow with pics of our mini farm:)

Sites I've been hanging out at

Now that the garden is up and running again I'm back at Dave's Garden.  I joined this garden community about 5 yr ago, but really haven't had a garden for the last 3 to play in.  I have already taken part in to plant Coops (hosta and iris).  Members host coops so that people that are all interested in buying the same plants can get great bulk prices.
This morning this site was brought to my attention--GreenThumbr.  I created a profile and have yet to look around a whole lot, but it seems like a fun site.  Anyone else on there?
I found that through Twitter.  And also found through Twitter was Plurk.  Anyone playing with that?  Several knitters are over there--including Wendy and Violet.  I like that I can have the twitterings up on my blog and they are connected with Greenthumbr so I probably won't hang out there a lot.  I do like the setup though.

It is so gray here today I can't get any photos of...the next prize!  The angora booties I knit last night.  The finished Needle Felted Bucket bag.  Sweet little bunnies.

I am so happy to have reached the original goal of $300 for the CCFA walk!! woo hoo!  Thank you everyone:)  Since there is one more week to go (and I have not posted my own donation) I want to see if $500 (!!!) might be a reachable goal.  I'm already happy why not try for ecstatic!  You can now scroll back to past posts to see the prizes that will be awarded (randomly) on June 28th.  Once the 10th prize is posted (in just a couple days!) I will post them all together for a last hopeful push towards the new goal!!!  Really, as not a lot of people have donated the odds of winning a prize are pretty darn good;)

Prizes first today!

Typepad has been a pain in the ass to work with the last couple of days.  So I thought while it is being good I should get some prizes posted.
Today is all about books!  #7 is a pre-order copy of It Itches, by Franklin Habit.  I am excited to see this book.  His cartoons are pretty fun.  And it has been fun to see the drawing and book process on his blog.  Oh how I would love to be one of those 1,000 Knitters!
#8 is a cookbook that all should have Julia's Kitchen Wisdom, by Julia Child.  Most people have a copy (or two part copy) of her Mastering the Art of French Cooking in their kitchen.  But this also is an excellent resource! 
Both these prizes will be sent direct from Amazon to the winners.  And how might you own one of these prizes?  Well just make a donation to the CCFA walk that I'll be participating in on June 28th (in downtown Portland) that's how:)

I had planned a little photo party post today as well.  Some fun birthday/father's day shots as well as some sweet pics of the nieces that visited yesterday.  But Typepad is being very slow on the photo loading so it will have to wait for another day.
I think this one post ought to be enough to wet your whistle though;)

Doodling about on Etsy

Etsy gets even more creative!  What would you request?

What's a new needle felter to do?

What could you do with this pattern?  Think of the yarn possibilities!

Purty!

All this looking about is helping my brain get resituated.  We had a wonderful Father's Day/Birthday dinner for 16 relatives yesterday.  Today I am going to clean, organize and get things back to normal.  I don't anticipate much more excitement for Summer (knock on wood).  I've had my fill over the last couple of years.  I would love to have a boring (creative) Summer.  Since it is looking like I will be back at work full-time in the Fall I am going to enjoy what I have up here while I can!

I have some old bananas on hand so I'm off to find a banana bread recipe.  I love the stuff, but haven't made one in years!  The Tiramisu yesterday--to die for!  No brandy up here so I had to borrow a little cognac from my FIL.  Wow!  That and using really good eggs had everyone asking for seconds.

Remember to donate for my CCFA walk!  I will be posting more prizes this week, but you can look at previous posts to see what there is so far:)

Yarn Prize--#6

Back in the Blogging saddle again (yes, I can hear the music).  The Italians are on a plane heading home (very sad).  We had a wonderful time relaxing at the mountains!  Fishing, eating, drinking and watching American movies in Spanish (no italian for Jesse James movie).
You have been waiting for some more prizes I would bet.  So here is a big beautiful one-- A lovely shawl project for prize #6!  The yarn is "Whisper" by Aurora Yarns (a one of a kind colorway).  I think the colors will look like poppies in this pattern--Field of Flowers, by Evelyn Clark.
Now is the time to donate!  So you can get your name in the "prize hat" (random number generator) for one of the lovely prizes (scroll back to previous posts for more!).  The next batch will include some books!  I would really love to blow my goal out of the water and raise the amount:)  That happened last year!!

As our friends were in the relax mode I was able to finish up a couple of projects while hanging out.  The Needle Felted bag is finished and felted really looking forward to tomorrow's class in which we will be learning to needle felt this lovely (I am over using that word today) Noro yarn onto the front of the bag.  I still need to order handles for this lovely...hehehe
Also finished this first sock from the April Rockin Sock Club (yes,I am a bit behind).  I would love to get the other finished by the 21st.  The start of the Summer of Socks!  However, as my LYS started their Summer of Socks on June 1st I am actually right on time:)